US2595478A

US2595478A - Valance, curtain and drapery fixture, and accessory

Info

Publication number: US2595478A
Application number: US785459A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nealis Mary
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-11-12
Filing date: 1947-11-12
Publication date: 1952-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1969-05-06

Description

VALANCE, CURTAIN AND DRAPERY FIXTURE AND ACCESSORY Filed Nov. 12, 1947 INVENTOR. w fl ed/z a rraiv/ri/sf Patented May 6, 1952 VALANCE, CURTAIN AND DRAPERY FIXTURE, AND ACCESSORY Mary Nealis, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 12, 1947, Serial No. 785,459

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in window ornamentation of the type including a valance, curtains and draperies and more particularly relates to an improved valance supporting structure which enables the use of a simple tubular sleeve of fabric detachably mounted on the valance support. This invention further concerns the combination of such a valance with a drapery and curtain fixture attached to the bracket forming the support for the valance, the drapery fixture conforming in shape to the external shape of the valance to provide a pleasing decorative appearance.

Heretofore valance constructions have commonly consisted of a solid backing material to which the desired decorating fabric could be attached by standard and well known upholstering techniques. Such constructions are subject to many disadvantages, one of the more important of which is that the installation requires the skilled labor of carpenters, upholsterers, etc., making the installation relatively expensive. A second disadvantage of valances of this type lies in the inability of the housekeeper to remove the decorating fabric from the valance structure for purposes of cleaning, replacing, etc., without seriously damaging the fabric.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide a valance bracket structure adapted to detachably receive a prefabricated simple tubular sleeve of decorating fabric and capable of being demountably secured to a window-type opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valance bracket structure which is provided with means for demountably securing the same to a window-type opening which readily allows the housewife to handle the assembly as a unit and to envelopthe decorating fabric on the assembly at floor height and thereafter place the entire unit in position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a window ornamentation having in combination a valance bracket structure adapted to be slidably enveloped by a simple tubular decorative fabric, and a drapery and curtain fixture detachably mounted on a single supporting means, the-drapery and curtain fixture having an external shape conforming to that of the valance structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive hanger bracket for securing avalance bracket structure and a drapery and curtain fixture in vertically spaced relationship.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will become apparent or will be specifically pointed out in the specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled valance bracket structure and drapery and curtain fixture mounted in position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the valance bracket structure of Figure 1 with the decorating fabric, draperies and curtains removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is" a perspective view showing the drapery and curtain fixture in attachment with the combination hanger bracket; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing further details of the hanger bracket.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Figure 1 a box shape valance having an elongated rectangular shaped front panel l and generally rectangular end panels 2 and?) which valance is adapted for mounting in front of a window-like aperture. Panels l, 2 and 3 are formed of a stretched decorative fabric and the valance is supported by

arms

19 and 28 which are attached to

hanger brackets

20 and 29 respectively. Draperies 4 and 5 extend vertically downwardly from panel I and traverse the aperture approximately parallel to panel I. The draperies 4 and 5 conform in general to the shape of the valance as may be seen by the drapery portion 6 extending rearwardly toward the wall in parallelism with panel 3. Positioned somewhat rearwardly of draperies 4 and 5 is curtain l which forms the central portion of the aperture ornamentation.

As may be seen in Figure 2, the valance skeleton is shown consisting of a valance bracket structure, generally designated II], which comprises a pair of bracket members and I2 having arms l3, l4, l5 and I6 connected by telescoping rod or tube members H and I8. Bracket member H is provided with an upper U-shaped member having a rod supporting'arm IS, an attachment arm I9 and a supporting portion 1 la which is the bight portion of the U-shaped member. An L- shaped member having a rod-supporting arm I4 and a supporting portion 2! is positioned directly beneath the upper U-shaped member and vertically spaced therefrom by rigid end plate'22. End plate 22 has a generally rectangular shape and is preferably fabricated from thin sheet metal inasmuch as its primary purpose is to strengthen and reinforce supporting portions II and 2|. A

second purpose served by said plate 22 is to provide a closed end structure which is pleasant in appearance in the absence of the decorative covering fabric. Materials which are much weaker in tension and shear may also be satisfactorily utilized, for example, cardboard which has been reinforced at its rearward edge 23 and forward edge 23a. Bracket I2 is similar in construction to that of bracket I I and it may be clearly seen that end surface member 24 overlaps and extends around the corners formed by the intersections of arm I5 and supporting portion I2a, arm I6 and supporting portion 25 thereby forming

end facings

26 and 21. It will be apparent that end facings 23, 23a, 26 and 2'! contribute to the provision of relatively smooth extensions of the supporting portions of brackets II and I2. The rounded corners thus formed enable a simple tubular valance of decorating fabric to be slid over the arm I9 across end surface 22, continuously across tubular members I1 and I8, around bracket I2 and ending at end surface 26. A tubular valance formed of limp decorating material may alternatively be first slid over tubes I! and I8 in gathered form, after which brackets I I and I2 may be telescopically attached thereto and the gathered decorating fabric easily slid over each of the brackets II and I2 to form a continuous valance covering.

An unwrinkled and solid-appearing covering for the valance structure is produced by longitudinally separating brackets II and I2 and positioning their supporting arms I9 arid 28 in

hanger brackets

28 and 29 respectively. Brackets II and I2 maintain the new positions continuously stretching the fabric due to the friction between arms I9 and 28 and the

hanger brackets

28 and 29. Two way stretching of the limp valance material is secured by fabricating the strengthening

members

22 and 24 of such vertical dimensions that the valance material forms a relatively tightfit therewith when slid into position. For extremely wide window apertures which require elongated telescopic members I1 and I8, it is desirable to reinforce them to prevent sagging and to maintain equal vertical spacing and this may be accomplished by positioning a spacer 38 between members I! and I8 at approximately the median point of the span.

As may be seen in Figures 1 and 4, valance structure I8 may be demountably attached to a supporting means in the form of a hanger bracket such as 28 and 29. Bracket 29 is provided with an upper attachment portion 3I' and a lower attachment portion 32 connected by an outwardly projecting generally channel shaped portion 33. Projecting portion 33 is adapted to receive supporting arm 28 which may be positioned therein either by sliding the supporting arm into the rectangular *aperture degned by the outwardly projecting portion 33 and the wall surface or by inserting the supporting arm 28 by sliding the same along the wall, deflecting upper portion 3| and snapping the arm into the aperture 34. Obviously, in attaching valance structure I8 to the

hangers

28 and 29 only one arm I9 or 28 may be threaded into the aperture and the other arm must be snapped in from the top. The hanger bracket 29 may be suitably attached by means of screw positioned in apertures 35 and may, if necessary, have its upper portion 3I secured by a screw in aperture 36. Integrally connected to lower portion 32 is downwardly depending drapery fixture securing portion 31 which has the form of a tightly-bent perpendicularly disposed U-shaped member having outer return bent portion 38. Portion 31 may be and preferably is positioned slightly outwardly from the plane of the wall, a distance such as that equal to the width of interconnecting generally horizontal portion 39.

Drapery and curtain supporting fixture 48 is comprised of a pair of similar brackets 4| and 42 having the general box shape of valance structure I0. Brackets 4i and 42 are comprised of corresponding parts bearing correspondingly primed numbers. Bracket 4| is comprised of horizontal supporting arm 43, outwardly projecting supporting

portions

44 and 45 and rod-supporting arms 46 and 4'! perpendicular to supporting

arms

44 and 45 respectively. Supporting arm 44 has a length less than that of arm 45 such that rodsupporting arm 46 is positioned behind and spaced from rod-supporting arm 41. Brackets 4| and 42 are united into one unitary structure by means of the tube members 48 and 49. It is apparent that draperies having the common type hem may be easily slid over each of brackets M and 42 and the tube members 48 and 49 thereafter inserted to form the drapery and curtain fixture 48. Drapery fixture 48 is adapted to be attached to the U-shaped vertical extension of the hanger bracket defined by portions 31 and 38 by inserting member 43 therein and thereafter lowering clip 58 therearound to provide a tight fit and insure against undesired disassembly. Clip 58 is comprised of an annular portion 5| adapted to surround members 31 and 38 and a vertically depending nib portion 52 adapted to enable the ready manipulation of the clip.

The two position construction of the hanger bracket 23 enables the positioning either of the drapery fixture 48 in the U shaped retaining portion or in the upper retaining aperture 34 in periods during which the valance structur has been removed. It will be appreciated that the general box shape valance structure I8 and the corresponding box shaped drapery fixture 48 when assembled on the single supporting

means

29 or 28 mutually contribute to produce a unitary aperture ornamentation which has a uniformity of appearance that is striking and pleasing to the eye.

Hanger bracket

29 or 28 is a unitary securing means which positions the top level of the drapery and curtain materials closely adjacent to the lower surface of the valance structure thereby requiring the smallest possible length of drapery and curtain materials and yet the bracket fixture is completely hidden by the valance. The two position hanger enables the removal of the valance without disturbing the draperies and curtains and presents a pleasing appearance even 'in the'absence of the valance especially when the drapery fixture is positioned in the upper aperture 34.

I claim:

1. A valance supporting structure comprising a pair of brackets each including at least two rodsupporting arms of cantilever construction, extension rods attached to said arms, means incorporated in each bracket for supporting such arms in vertically spaced substantially horizontal positions in the same vertical plane and parallel to one another, and also parallel to a Window opening, includin supporting portions extending perpendicularly to such arms, such supporting portions being vertically spaced and positioned conformably to the spacing of such arms and constituting relatively smooth extensions of such arms, whereby a tubular valance formed of limp material may be slid over the arms and may extend continuously over such supporting portions and over said extension rods attached to such arms.

2. A bracket structure as defined in claim 1 including a hanger bracket to which the said valance supporting structure may be separably attached and a generally rectangular plate connecting said supporting portions, at least one of said supporting portions constituting the bight section of a U-shaped sheet metal member, one arm of said member defining one of said previously mention supporting arms and the other arm of said member being engageable with said hanger bracket.

3. A valance supporting structure consisting of a pair of brackets each including at least two rod-supporting arms of cantilever construction, means incorporated in each bracket for supporting such arms in vertically spaced substantially horizontal positions in the same vertical plane and parallel to one another, including supporting portions extending transversely to such arms, such supporting portions being vertically spaced and positioned conformably to the spacing of such arms and constituting relatively smooth extensions of such arms, the upper of said supporting portions being rigidly attached to a transversely extendin supporting arm, said rod-supporting arms being connected by extension rods whereby a unitary double U-shaped structure is formed over which a tubular valance may be slid, whereby such a valance may extend continuously over such supporting portions and said extension rods.

4. A window-type aperture ornamentation structure comprising in combination a valance supporting structure having a generally box shape, a-drapery and curtain fixture having a reduced size and a shape corresponding to said valance and a hanger bracket demountably receiving and supporting said valance structure and said fixture, said bracket separating said Valance structure and said fixture, and rigidly engaging the same whereby the said valance and fixture are prevented from disengagement and the said fixture is prevented from rotation.

5. An ornamentation structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the said bracket is provided with channel means for receiving said valance structure, said means being accessible from above, and U-shaped means for receiving said fixture, said latter means having releasable securing means for rigidly locating said fixture therein.

6. An ornamentation structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the said bracket is provided with channel means for receiving said valance structure from above, and means for receiving said fixture, said means consisting of a tightly bent vertically disposed U-shaped member the inner wall portions of which define an aperture which is intimately filled by said fixture, and a clip surrounding said U shaped member locking said fixture in said aperture.

MARY NEALIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,773,590 Mathias Aug. 19, 1930 1,914,027 Kress June 13, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 165,104 Switzerland June 13, 1933